2016: Page 330

Most of the time it is easy to sit down and write out the day’s page. Today, however, is not one of those days. The American culture calls today Black Friday because it has the ability to determine if a retail business will finish the year with its books showing a profit. We have become so obsessed with “stuff” that many people will rush out to purchase things that they don’t have the money to pay for just because they’ve been convinced, or convinced themselves, that they need it. Many times this pursuit of things creates a double standard when it comes to how we define wants and needs. When it comes to providing for ourselves, the list of needs is often much longer than when we are called upon to share what God has given us.

While the words for today’s page seem to be quite elusive, a poem showed up in my mind as I’ve been trying to write. I guess the poem will become today’s page as I pray that I’m not missing what I was supposed to be writing.

The turkey was eaten,the pie disappeared.Our attention has turnedto a red suit and a beard.Our one day of thankshas gone out the door.And now our whole focusis on wanting more.

And as we considerwhat’s want and what’s need.What we want is important,what they want is greed.So self is the masterwe try most to please.While everyone elseis brought down to their knees.

You can’t have what you want,for I really don’t care.That’s just how it isand yes, life isn’t fair.I give what I wantand I keep what I choose.What I have is mineand I’m not going to lose.

I really don’t careif I could make your day.That’s not why I’m here,no matter what God might say.For the things I do wantare always much higher.Than anything elsethat you might desire.

I hope you did notice,and it’s more than a guess.The poem you’ve been readingis simply a mess!Thanksgiving is over,at least as a day.But a life filled with thanksshould be here to stay.

So as our attentionturns to sleighs and reindeer.I offer a messagethat I hope you will hear.The seasons may changebut the need still is real.To give of yourselfno matter how you may feel.

We give of our selfand we give of our treasure.We give by a standardthat no one can measure.That standard is Jesus,as He showed us how.To give in the moment,when that moment is now!

Today’s photo is one I took earlier in the week as a cardinal helped himself to some of the berries in the brush outside my office window. To me, it is a picture of contentment as he ate his fill and perched in the glow of the early morning sun. One of the neat things about the area outside my window is that there appears to be a willingness among the various visitors to share the food supply. There are deer, cardinals, blue jays, flickers, woodpeckers, finches, robins, and other wildlife that all come to feast within view of my office window. Even species that have a reputation for not getting along seem to tolerate each other at this location as I’ve had cardinals and blue jays eating side-by-side at times. They share what God has provided and seem content with only what they need.

I pray that you and I would spend time with God examining our attitudes toward the “stuff” of this world. I pray that we would listen to God rather than the world when it comes to defining what we need. I pray that we would learn a contentment that helps us to not only live within our means, but to freely share what God has given us. I pray that we would look to Jesus rather than others when it comes to determining how we ought to give.

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Disclaimer!

All posts on this blog are my thoughts and opinions at the time of writing and do not necessarily reflect the views of any other individual or organization. I have been known to change my mind on occasion, so the writings here may not even reflect my views all the time.
Thanks for learning with me. - Tom